Wire-fence tightener.



G. BULL.

WIRE FENCE TiGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY25. 1910.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANouR/mli c0.,w/\smNu|un, u.

STATES GRANT BULL, OF WELLMAN, IOWA.

WIRE-FENCE TIGI-ITENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. .24, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRANT BULL, a citizen of the United States, residingat Wellman, in the county of WVashington and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in WVire-Fence Tighteners,of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in certain improvements in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts of wire tighteners, or stretchers,for use in the tightening of woven wire fabric, or wire strands, such asare used in the construction of wire fences of various types, wherebysuch an instrument is provided which may be used for tightening all ofthe wires used in the construction of a. fence simultaneously andwithout re-adjustment, all as will be hereinafter more fully describedand claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1is a side elevation of a panel of a fence and one of my improved wiretighteners in the position it occupies when in use, Fig. 2 a top or planview of the same, omitting the hand-wheel, and Fig. 3 a section lookingdownwardly from the dotted line 83 in Fig. 1.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the fence posts, B therotary winding post, C the clamp, and D the distance rod, or brace.

The fence is composed of the posts A and wires a, being, in the main,any ordinary or approved construction of wire fence. The diagonal braceA between the two posts A is such as used at the end, or corner, of thefence structure.

The winding post B is set in vertical position, being mounted at itslower end in a socket in a base block 10, of suitable size, adapted tobe set into the ground and provided on one side with a wing 11 ofsufficient length to hold said base block firmly from turning. Said postis mounted to turn in a socket in said base block and is provided at itslower end with a ratchet wheel 12, secured rigidly thereto, with which apawl 13, pivoted on the top of said block, is adapted to engage. Nearthe top of said post it is provided with a horizontal plate, or yoke, 14extending each way from the post for a considerable distance and havingperforations in each of its corners. Said yoke is supported on a collar6 secured to said post by a set screw, or pin, Z) the yoke thus servingas the upper bearing in which said post turns. Guy chains, or wires, 15and 16 conne ct with the two holes in the rear side of sald yoke and aresecured at their opposite ends to stakes 17 and 18 set into the ground asuitable distance back of the post and on each side thereof, to holdsaid post firmly against sidewise movement, and support it against thestrain of the work.

The distance rod, or brace, D is formed forked at its rear end, a branchof the fork engaging in each of the perforations in the front corners ofsaid yoke. The forward end of said brace is formed with a spike adapted,as shown, to engage with the adjacent face of the post A.

The clamp C consists of two vertical bars, of sufficient length, securedtogether by clamping bolts 0, the wires composing the fence panel beinginserted between the two bars composing the clamp and securely clampedtherein by means of said bolts. Chains 19 and 20 are each secured at oneend to the clamp C and at the other end to the post B on which post theyare adapted to be wound by the turning of said post through the mediumof a hand-wheel b on its upper end.

In use the apparatus is assembled and set up as shown in Figs. 1 and 2the base block 10 with the side wing 11 being imbedded in the ground toafford a firm anchorage and support for the lower end of the post B. Theguy chains 15 and 16 are then adjusted and secured, the distance brace Dput in place and the clamp C, connected by the chains 19 and 20 to postB is secured by the clamping bolts 0 to the free end of the wirescomposing the fence panel. By turning the post B, through the medium ofthe hand wheel I), and keeping the pawl 13 in engagement with theratchet wheel 12, the wires may be tightened to the tension desired andthen secured by the use of any approved securing devices.

By reason of the yoke 14 extending for a distance on each side of theupper end of the post, and its four corners being securely held by therearwardly extended guys, and the forwardly extending forked brace rod,the upper end of said post is given a very rigid and secure supportwhich is of decided advantage in the operation of the device.

By this means a very simple and convenient means for securing thenecessary ten sion of the Wires is provided, and one that vention what Iclaim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A wire fence tightener comprising a' vertical Winding post, meansfolholding said post comprising a base block formed with a socket andhaving means thereon to secure said post in rotary adjustment; a rectamgular plate or' yoke having a centrally ai' ranged aperture in whichsaid post is ada e ed t6 turn sup orted near its upper end, an eyeformed in each of the four corners of the yoke and at equal distancefrom the center, guys if tending from the e es in the rear corners ofthe yoke and connected some dis:

Copies of this pdt'iit may be oiitaiii'd in tance to the rear bysuitable anchoring means, a distance rod formed with a spike on one endadapted to engage the adjacent side of thefence post and a forked rearend adapted to engage the eyes in the front corners of the yoke, a clampfor connecting with the Wires, and flexible connections between saidclamp and the rotary post, substantially as set forth. 7

g In witness whereof, I, have hereunto set my hand and seal at VVeHman,Iowa this 21st day of July, A. D. nineteen hundred arid ten. v GRANTBULL. [L s.] Witnesses:

H. W. DEUKER,

' 'rnos. WV. CAPPER.

his eeiits eicii; ty addressin the commissibner' of Patents. Washington,1). 0."

